Dear Friends

As I write this we are preparing for Christmas and the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, sent to earth for us. By the time you read this, Christmas Day will have come and gone, and we will be thinking about a New Year, maybe about New Years resolutions or just what this year may hold for us or not.

20 years ago when I was nursing, I had volunteered to work the night shift for the night of 31st December 1999 and 1st January 2000 – the new millennium which I can’t quite believe is 20 years ago now! I have never seen so many staff in the hospital for a night shift and worried looking technicians and managers walked in and out of the ward as we waited to see if planes would fall out of the skies or whether all of our technology would go down at midnight. It came and went without event (although you can usually never describe an NHS night shift as being without event!) but nothing changed, the pumps continued to do their work, the blood pressure machine didn’t break down and the electrical system continued to light the ward lights and work the bell system. There was activity for a few hours and we realised all would be well and we continued our work for the night.

As we go in to a New Year we may be going in to this with anticipation, worry, sadness or regret or we may be excited by new opportunities, new possibilities. I am struck thinking again about that Millennium, that there was so much worry and anxiety, yet all continued on. The Bible tells us to “cast all our anxiety on to God, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5: 7). I hope that whatever the New Year holds for you, that you know the love of a God who cares for you whatever your circumstances.

With every blessing in this New Year

Rev Sarah (Vicar)

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